BLAST Open to head to Rotterdam in March 2026

London, 4th September 2025 – The world’s best Counter-Strike teams are set to descend on the Netherlands as the BLAST Premier Open Rotterdam takes over the iconic Ahoy Arena of Rotterdam Ahoy from 27–29 March 2026. The three-day tournament will bring thousands of fans to Rotterdam, with millions more tuning in worldwide to witness one of the biggest esports events ever staged in the country.

Over two weeks of world-class esports action, Open will showcase 16 of the best Counter-Strike 2 teams battling for a share of $1.1 Million USD split into $400,000 in prize money and $700,000 in team payments. The final three days of action will put six of Counter-Strike’s best on the Netherlands stage.

The tournament will be broadcast to more than 100 territories and in 30+ official languages, reaching a global audience of millions. 2025’s Open generated over 89 million views worldwide, underlining the scale and prestige that accompanies the event coming to Rotterdam.

The road to Rotterdam begins at BLAST’s Copenhagen studios, where teams will battle it out for qualification. Twelve of Counter-Strike’s best teams will receive direct invites via the global leaderboard rankings, with the final four teams qualifying through open qualifiers, resulting in a lineup of the best Counter-Strike has to offer. Only six teams will secure their spot to play live in front of thousands of fans at the Ahoy Arena.

The Ahoy Arena has hosted many famous acts across entertainment and is now set to welcome fans from across Europe and beyond. The Open will draw in fans from across greater Europe, delivering a significant economic impact to Rotterdam through tourism, hospitality, and fan experiences.

Andrew Haworth, SVP of Ecosystems at BLAST, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring the BLAST Premier Open to Rotterdam, taking BLAST to a brand-new country. The Netherlands has a passionate esports fanbase, and the Ahoy Arena is the perfect stage to host the next chapter of BLAST. Fans can expect world-class Counter-Strike, unforgettable moments, and the signature BLAST production quality they have come to know.”

After hosting major esports events in 2024 across cities such as With Hong Kong, Singapore, Rio, London, Munich, Austin and Boston hosting leading esports events in 2024, Rotterdam now joins this roster of world-class cities embracing esports as a driver of tourism, jobs, and international visibility while engaging a new generation of fans.

BLAST is teaming up with Friendly Fire, the Netherlands arm of international event organiser, FKP Scorpio, to help promote the event in the Netherlands and get the Ahoy Arena bouncing. Working with over 16 years of expertise in the live entertainment industry, Friendly Fire supports BLAST’s mission to deliver premium esports experiences by collaborating with leading regional partners. Together, they aim to create unforgettable moments for fans and make this event a historical cultural moment.

Rense van Kessel, co-founder of Friendly Fire, shares his excitement: "We are proud and thrilled to bring BLAST Premier to the Netherlands for the very first time. As the country’s largest international esports event to date, it showcases top-tier competition and highlights the growing cultural impact of esports – marking a major milestone for the industry and for fans in the Netherlands."

Tickets will go live in on the following days and times:

• Presale: Thursday 23 October – 10AM BST // 11AM CEST
• On sale: Friday 24 October – 10AM BST // 11AM CEST

Fans can stay up to date on all things Rotterdam including ticket presales and announcements by signing up to BLAST.tv and following the BLAST Premier social Channels. There is also a dedicated landing page http://www.blastpremier.nl/